Published: Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:07 p.m.

Earlier during the season, I could count on receiving an email each Sunday from a reader in desperate need of a good day.

He mocked the newspaper.

He ridiculed me as not being qualified for the job.

He threatened to stop reading the newspaper Sunday after Sunday after Sunday.

Finally, in late spring, I stopped hearing from him.

Did he take his mad and motor back to the Northeast?

Or did he finally make good on his threat?

I could search through thousands of emails, find his address, and track him down. But it's safe to speculate my gesture wouldn't change his thinking.

Besides, he knows how to reach me.

When 2013 bids adieu, I'll have received more than 50,000 interactions from emails and social media. Not every email requires a response as many are press releases or sales pitches.

But add in thousands of phone calls, text messages, letters and one-on-one contacts, and the banter stream never goes on vacation.

My iPhone and iPad are constant companions at a time when readers, sources and colleagues expect instant access. (The only time I'm not near a mobile device is in church, on bike rides or during our daily walks.)

Not every message glows with Florida sunshine.

One writer is convinced I throw his letters “in the closest waste basket before you read it.”

One reader Tweeted that my column last week “Came across as a wishy-washy cave in which you sounded afraid to lose any readers by stating a view.”

Complaints typically are about volume. We have too little about a topic. Or we have too much.

There's one exception. Readers don't complain about coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They just complain about the Bucs.

I make an effort to be receptive and reasonable, but not every interaction warrants a response or goes smoothly. (On three occasions this year I've been tempted to give the critic my mom's phone number so they could enjoy the complete tattletale experience.)

Letters create the biggest time challenge because responses require more than a quick sentence or two. I'm behind on correspondence, so my apologies if your letter is part of the newest high-rise condo project on the editor's desk. Sometimes the paper stack gets so high, I need an elevator.

In the meantime . . .

To Joseph Fanelli of Bradenton, thanks for writing. Yes, we're interested in doing more stories on the local impact of the Affordable Care Act.

To Chuck Klinger of Venice, interesting thoughts on the comics. Of course, there are readers who won't agree with your favorites.

To Irv Newman of Sarasota, we all could learn from the lasting relationships that started in your New Jersey kindergarten class 87 years ago.

To Carol Lewczak of Sarasota, I laughed at the ending to your letter: “When it's good — it doesn't need to get any better. Don't press your luck!” That's how I feel about a lot of topics (including napping).

To Blanche Vanderzee of Bradenton, thanks for the kind note and the clever clippings. And I do think gloves go with plaid shorts.

And to all, thanks for your readership. It's been an interesting year.

Bill Church can be contacted at bill.church@heraldtribune.com or (941) 361-4991. Follow him on Twitter @BillChurchMedia.

<p>Earlier during the season, I could count on receiving an email each Sunday from a reader in desperate need of a good day.</p><p>He mocked the newspaper.</p><p>He ridiculed me as not being qualified for the job.</p><p>He threatened to stop reading the newspaper Sunday after Sunday after Sunday.</p><p>Finally, in late spring, I stopped hearing from him.</p><p>Did he take his mad and motor back to the Northeast?</p><p>Or did he finally make good on his threat?</p><p>I could search through thousands of emails, find his address, and track him down. But it's safe to speculate my gesture wouldn't change his thinking.</p><p>Besides, he knows how to reach me.</p><p>When 2013 bids adieu, I'll have received more than 50,000 interactions from emails and social media. Not every email requires a response as many are press releases or sales pitches.</p><p>But add in thousands of phone calls, text messages, letters and one-on-one contacts, and the banter stream never goes on vacation.</p><p>My iPhone and iPad are constant companions at a time when readers, sources and colleagues expect instant access. (The only time I'm not near a mobile device is in church, on bike rides or during our daily walks.)</p><p>Not every message glows with Florida sunshine.</p><p>One writer is convinced I throw his letters “in the closest waste basket before you read it.”</p><p>One reader Tweeted that my column last week “Came across as a wishy-washy cave in which you sounded afraid to lose any readers by stating a view.”</p><p>Complaints typically are about volume. We have too little about a topic. Or we have too much. </p><p>There's one exception. Readers don't complain about coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They just complain about the Bucs.</p><p>I make an effort to be receptive and reasonable, but not every interaction warrants a response or goes smoothly. (On three occasions this year I've been tempted to give the critic my mom's phone number so they could enjoy the complete tattletale experience.)</p><p>Letters create the biggest time challenge because responses require more than a quick sentence or two. I'm behind on correspondence, so my apologies if your letter is part of the newest high-rise condo project on the editor's desk. Sometimes the paper stack gets so high, I need an elevator.</p><p>In the meantime . . .</p><p>To Joseph Fanelli of Bradenton, thanks for writing. Yes, we're interested in doing more stories on the local impact of the Affordable Care Act.</p><p>To Chuck Klinger of Venice, interesting thoughts on the comics. Of course, there are readers who won't agree with your favorites.</p><p>To Irv Newman of Sarasota, we all could learn from the lasting relationships that started in your New Jersey kindergarten class 87 years ago.</p><p>To Carol Lewczak of Sarasota, I laughed at the ending to your letter: “When it's good — it doesn't need to get any better. Don't press your luck!” That's how I feel about a lot of topics (including napping).</p><p>To Blanche Vanderzee of Bradenton, thanks for the kind note and the clever clippings. And I do think gloves go with plaid shorts.</p><p>And to all, thanks for your readership. It's been an interesting year.</p><p><i>Bill Church can be contacted at bill.church@heraldtribune.com or (941) 361-4991. Follow him on Twitter @BillChurchMedia.</p><p></i></p>